SyrianCivilWar Rules

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For those who want a basic guide to who's who in the Syrian Civil War, here is a list of all factions in the civil war with a short description of their goals, size, and allegiance. For the second part, here is a list of all those affiliated with the Syrian National Coalition, the main faction of rebel fighters fighting Assad's regime.

Free Syrian Army - Secularist army of Syrian military defectors whose only goal is to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad. Has 80,000 active personnel.

Syrian Martyrs' Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is one of the largest rebel factions in Idlib Governorate, holding 7,000-12,000 fighters.

Ammar bin Yassir Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after one of the Prophet Muhammad's most loyal companions, the battalion based in Idlib Governorate is unknown in its size or if it has carried out any military action.

Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Dedicated to the memory of the 13-year old boy brutally murdered by the Syrian military, the battalion's only known information is that it is based in Idlib City.

Al-Furqan Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after the 25th Sura of the Quran, the battalion's only known information is that it is located in Idlib Province.

Harmoush Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after the top Syrian officer that defected to join the FSA, there is no known information about the unit besides its location in Idlib Province.

Martyrs Ma'arat Nu'man Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the soldiers who died capturing Maarat Al-Nu'man for the Syrian rebellion, nothing is known about the battalion besides it location in Idlib Province.

Shield of Islam Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Nothing is known about this battalion other than its location in Idlib Province.

Salahedinne Al-Ayoubi Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, the unit is based in Jisr al-Shughur, Idlib Province.

Qashoush Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after the anti-Syrian government singer who was violently murdered by the regime, the group is based in Hama City.

Aboul Fidaa Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named after the Kurdish Ayyubid Dynasty prince for which a mosque and a crater on the moon is named for, the battalion is based in Hama Province.

Saad bin Moaz Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is named for the noble companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the chief of the Banu Aus tribe in Medina.

Al Nasser Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Its etymology is of unknown origin.

Ziaab al-Ghab Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is named for the Al-Ghab Plain, a fertile depression in northwest Syria.

Moawiyah bin Abi Sufian - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the establisher of the Umayyad Dynasty of the Caliphate, the group is based in Damascus.

Houriyeh Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Aleppo.

Ababeel Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Aleppo Province.

Lions of Shahba Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the ancient Roman city in modern-day Syria, the unit is based in Aleppo Province.

Saad Allah Al-Jabiri Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the two-time Prime Minister of Syria, the battalion is based in Aleppo Province.

Omari Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the family that claims descent from Umar, the second Caliph of the Islamic Caliphate, the battalion is based in Daraa Province and the Hauran Plateau.

Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the Commander General of the Syrian Revolution, the battalion is based in As-Suwayda Province.

Qassam Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the term for the armed wing of an Islamic movement, the unit is based in Jableh City in Latakia Province.

Suqur Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Latakia City.

Samer Nunu Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Tartus Province.

Mishaal Tammo Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the assassinated Syrian politician who championed Kurdish rights, the unit is based in Kurdish Rebel-held Qamishli.

Odai Al-Tayi Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Hasakah.

Omar ibn Al-Khattab Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for Umar, the second Caliph of the Islamic Caliphate, the unit is based in Deir ez-Zor City.

Moaz Al-Raqad Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Deir ez-Zor Province.

Osoud Al-Sunna Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Deir ez-Zor Province.

Zi Qar Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Deir ez-Zor Province.

Al Moata Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Deir ez-Zor Province.

Allahu Akbar Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the Takbir, the exclamation proclaiming god's excellence in Islam, the unit is based in Abu Kamal.

Dawn of Freedom Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Homs Province.

Ramy Al-Sayeed Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the Syrian journalist killed during an attack on Homs City, the unit is based in Homs Province.

Rijal Al-Umma Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Homs Province.

Tel Kalakh Martyrs' Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the fallen of the Battle of Tal Kalakh, the unit is based in Homs Province.

Shuhada Al-Badiya Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Homs Province.

Al-Karama Brigade - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the Arabic word for dignity, the unit is based in Homs Province.

Ahmad Nayif Al-Sukhni Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Ar-Raqqah.

Abu Obeidah bin Al-Jarrah Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for one of the Prophet Muhammad's companions and the designated successor to the Caliphate by Caliph Umar, the unit is based in Damascus Province.

Souqour Dimashq Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is based in Damascus.

Osama bin Laden Battalion - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. Named for the infamous former leader of Al-Qaeda, the unit is based in Damascus.

Liwaa Al-Umma - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It is has upwards of 6,000 soldiers.

Syrian Turkmen Brigades - Unit of the Free Syrian Army. It has 10,000 soldiers, 3,000 of which are stationed in Aleppo. The unit claims to be fighting for the rights of Turkmens in Syria.

Ghuraba Al-Sham - Secularist rebel fighters fighting for the establishment of a secularist democracy in Syria. Has 100 fighters, although they used to have 2,000 before a clash with Islamic fundamentalists decimated the force.

Household Brigade - Unit of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. It is based in Hama.

Brigades of God - Unit of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. It is based in Lattakia.

Izz ibn Abd Al-Salam Bridgades - Unit of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. Named for the "Sultan of the Scholars", the unit is based in Lattakia.

Council of Banias - Unit of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. It is based in Tartous.

Tartous Military - Unit of the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. It is based in Tartous.

Ahfad Al-Rasul Brigade - Syrian Islamist rebel group unaffiliated with the Free Syrian Army that is funded by the Qatari government. Allied with the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. Has between 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers.

Future Movement - Lebanese classical liberal political party.

Lethal Military Support - Countries that ship weapons and men to the Syrian National Coalition.

Turkey - Capitalist state. Ships firearms to the FSA.

Saudi Arabia - Islamic Kingdom. Ships firearms to the FSA.

Qatar - Islamic Kingdom. Ships firearms to the FSA and funding to the Ahfad Al-Rusal Brigade.

There is some significance behind these names. Oftentimes, the battalion will post a youtube video declaring its inception. You can tell (at least if you speak Arabic) that they are passionate about what their battalion stands for, from bringing justice to the murderers of a 13-year old boy, to protecting the legacy of a terrorist leader.

Why is everything labelled a brigade? I've noticed that in the titles of units in other Mid east/north African conflicts as well. Is that something with some sort of cultural significance, or is it just a funny translation on the part of western observers?

Liwa, meaning "banner' or "standard" in Arabic, is often translated as either "brigade" or "battalion." When it comes to Syrian rebel forces, I've often seen the term "brigade" used to denote autonomous or semi-autonomous military outfits that are comprised of a central headquarters commanding several sub-battalions and/or companies, depending on the size of the "brigade."

A decent list, but some of the things that you have stated are just false. You portray most of the FSA as not secular, but we know this to be false. Most of the FSA is indeed secular, and it is the strongest faction out of all of the rebels.

You do realise the source you listed is also an opinion piece (the interview with Michael Pettis) and actually doesn't mention Syria? I could call this source ridiculously stupid as well but ill refrain just to keep the conversation civil. Anyways thank you for commenting on the second source but I would be interested in hearing your opinion on the first which isn't from the opinion section? Especially

Even the Supreme Military Council, the umbrella rebel organization whose formation the West had hoped would sideline radical groups, is stocked with commanders who want to infuse Islamic law into a future Syrian government. Nowhere in rebel-controlled Syria is there a secular fighting force to speak of.